I don’t like to begin a job and not complete it. If I am having to assemble something, I like to make sure I have enough time that day to finish, otherwise I find myself thinking about the parts yet to be assembled through the night when I should be sleeping. When the lawn needs mowing, I don’t like to do the front yard one day and the back the next. When I start, I like to keep working until I get ours and then our neighbor’s yard done so I can then clean up and know I don’t have to think about it for a while. This is just part of my temperament when it comes to the beginning and completing of tasks.
When it comes to getting things done in life, we may wrestle with the limitations of time or know how, but do we trust God in the work He will bring to fruition? Are we allowing Him to continue His work in and through us as we rely on His power to fulfill what He desires?
Encouraging Christians at Philippi, Paul wrote. . .
“(3) I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, (4) always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, (5) because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. (6) And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3-6 ESV)
Though these Christians had partnered with Paul in the work of the Gospel, it was not so much a work they had begun as it was a work God had begun in connection with their lives. As the Gospel had worked in the life of Paul to turn him from a persecutor to a preacher, the Gospel had worked in the lives of these Christians in bringing each of them into becoming a new creation in Christ. (i.e. 2 Corinthians 5:17) God’s work of redemption through Christ was His plan before the ages began (2 Timothy 1:9) and was provided while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8) Therefore, lest we begin to boast about our own efforts, we need to humbly bear in mind that our spiritual progress is rooted in the work God has done, is doing, and will do in connection with our life. His providential plan of salvation through Christ was brought about by His workings and will be ultimately brought to fullness by His power! Knowing we are where we are and engaged in what we are because of Him, may we unwaveringly trust in His ability to bring it all to completion at the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have a great day SURRENDERED TO THE WORK GOD IS BRINGING TO COMPLETION!
Carl
